SMITHFIELD – Johnston County public school board member Ronald Johnson announced Wednesday afternoon that he will not resign from the board of education. On July 8th, Johnson said he would resign effective July 17th, but now says he has changed his mind.
This afternoon, Mr. Johnson released the following statement:
“After further consideration, I will not resign from the Board of Education. I appreciate the overwhelming support from people asking me to stay. I understand what is at stake, and I will hang on as long as I possibly can. There were poor decisions that were made in my personal life, but they do not define me in my position as an advocate of the stakeholders of JCPS. A group of people are trying to use those choices to force me out of office. I know the next few months will be incredibly tough and I am asking that everyone be patient until I am in a position to respond.
There are things happening right now, and many people that are unaware of what is going on. I will release additional information when I am able, and in the event I cannot produce the information, I have given it to individuals I trust.
I understand the risks involved by staying on the Board of Education. It shouldn’t be this way, but I have to see this through no matter the cost.”
He was elected to the Johnston County school board in 2016 and won reelection in 2020. His seat is not up for election until 2024.
Johnson is a detective with the Smithfield Police Department. On July 5th, Johnson was suspended with pay due to an internal investigation, Police Chief Keith Powell said.
This afternoon, Chief Powell confirmed Johnson remains suspended but now without pay. “He has been placed on administrative leave without pay and the investigation is still ongoing. This is a personal matter so no further information is available at this time,” Chief Powell said in an email.
On July 8th, Ronald Johnson stated he had been the subject of relentless threats and harassment, including threatening text messages from an anonymous phone number while he is at board meetings and public places.
The Johnston County Report has confirmed Mr. Johnson filed a police report June 3, 2022 with the Clayton Police Department for the alleged harassment that began on May 8, 2022. Clayton Police confirmed they are investigating the allegations.
Can you say Flip-flop. He will be a distraction to the school board. The students of JoCo deserve better. Especially since his integrity is now questionable.
Yeah the students deserved better when they were forced, many against their own wills and the wills of their parents to wear masks which proved to be of little effect. The students deserved better when they were forced to sit in front of screens for entire school days. The students deserved better when they were told they were either oppressors or oppressed. The students at least deserve the truth rather than delusional rhetoric regarding their own identities. The students deserve a quality education, free from political and social propaganda.
At least Johnson was fighting for what the students deserve, so don’t come into this spouting about “deserving better” or “integrity”
Thanks and good luck.
“I will release additional information when I am able, and in the event I cannot produce the information, I have given it to individuals I trust.”
A bit dramatic…
You can say what ever you want to about Ron-Jon but he has played this absolutely perfect. This will make the ones that hate him and the Abortion Mill Democrats head explode! Ron-Jon you can still start that GO FUND ME account and we will contribute to just see more of the Abortion Mill Democrats head explode!!!
I’m a supporter of Ron Johnson
His own party called wral on him
I’m proud of him for not resigning. You have a individual that lost his primary and is trying to find a way on the board. Mr Johnson is loved by more dems than republicans I promise you that . Like I said his own party is against him and are the ones trying to get him to resign
What??????? He is an idiot said this republican!
Yes same games that were played when a certain chairman knew a board member no longer lived in the district before the election but allowed her to remain on the board until after the election so he could choose who he wanted on the board instead of the voters. Now the voters have spoken and did not give that person a chance. The voters are smart and done with the antics of this chairman and his cronies.
Ms.Jen R, I have to say you are beginning to empress me just a little with those political recalls. However; being married to the opposite sex I do realize your kind never forget nothing! Nothing!!!
Flip flop. Does anyone actually believe this guy???
Good grief, this guy is a loser. He only is staying because he is now suspended WITHOUT pay at his real job. And yes, decisions in your personal life DO REFLECT in your professional life. I am looking forward to another flip flop and he will be off the BOE.
Folks you can say what ever, but the man Ron-Jon is controlling the way this bad news is being released about him. He has literally turned his scandal into a managed soap opera that he controls. Poor, Poor, Poor, Ron-Jon don’t we all just hate how that evil other side is trying to take him down? Ron-Jon you deserve a loud and long standing ovation!!! This is why the Abortion Mill Democrats hates Donald J. Trump so badly because they have never seen a so-called conservative fight this way!!!
Sorry, You ain’t logical, in no way shape or fashion.
You, Sir are a ‘one trick pony’
Terry, are you trying to tell us, that this guy is a R/W Republican that considers himself above the LAW and picks and chooses from the Bible what he believes will be an advantage for his agenda? Sounds like the second coming of the IDIOT Autocratic Dictator, Orange man, Putin want a be. That’s all we need is another IDIOT. Wait Wait Wait there are a lot of IDIOT Republicans. I Stand Corrected
Smithfield PD has placed Mr. Johnson on unpaid leave. How come?
That means it’s now become a criminal investigation and this is where Garrity comes into play. He’s in a heap of trouble for it to be unpaid……
He is a disgrace to Johnston County Schools.
Terrybarns is afraid Pegasus is taking the mantle of craziest joco commentary.
Do we really need this distraction within our school system? This guy is bad news and the children deserve someone on the board that can operate without making headlines behind his nonsense. Just shows you all how selfish he is. He’s terrible!
The guy is unethical. Now he even admits it. We can do better that this lying grandstander..Still waiting on evidence of his lie that the Selma Middle School name change cost $50 K.
I am surprised that anyone in their right mind would run for any public office with all the vitriol spread on this and other sites. How about a little grace people, you may need it yourself one day.
Wrong terrible terry, we disliked trump because he’s a traitor to our country, ours being all of us….storming our Capitol, killing Capitol hill police, defacing walls with feces , attempting to stop the peaceful transfer of power. America is bigger than one man and his minions, we rise as one or we fall , trump belongs in jail , a true traitor to American democracy. Terry we are strong and here because of sacrifices by all of American, black white latino Jewish Irish Catholics Christians native Americans ect..i did 24 years in the United states army, even did one year on the capital police force, I pray you wake up and stand for the constitution, and serve your community better. I want to see all police officers military veterans political leaders that were involved with the destruction of our Capitol, jailed, we must be better if we are to survive this American experiment. Sfc Jones USA retired.
You are a traitor to this country.
USN Retired
You like Jim Davenport need to go quietly into the night. Enough out of the disgraced “retired” cops who can’t let it go.
Sir, it is hard to take you seriously with such delusional claims. It’s obvious you watch the news to form your opinion rather than facts. The officer who died, died of a heart attack. The doors to the capitol were opened from the inside. However, I do respect your opinion to like or dislike a former president but please don’t take everything the news tells you as truth.
Yes, the doors of the Capitol were opened from the inside after “patriots” broke the windows and crawled through to open the doors.
Mr. Melvin D Jones you don’t wear army boots with a green government issued combat attire and sport a green helment with a long white mustache selling insurance with a 7 foot retired basketball player do you?
Where is my opinion commentary, mr editor or are you just printing the minority ….m Jones
Folks, any town the size of Smithfield that votes to ad 2005 more living units into thier city limits is a town that has no respect for anyone in thier county. That’s a town wanting to spread thier Abortion Mill Democrat wings so we all should be on the lookout for more dirty political hits and leaks concerning the masterful political player Ron-Jon. Look folks Ron-Jon gave the Smithfield Political Machine the illusion of a resignation long enough for them to fist pump and chest beat in a false sense of victory. Folks do you realize when folks think they have become victorious how lose lips and arrogant they can get? Now the same town council that voted to expand Smithfield by 2005 units to achieve thier liberal progressive liberal status finds that thier victory is short lived. Folks, who controls the Chief of Police in any town like a lapdog on a short lease? The town council does. Do you folks that been around for a while do not think there is some cleaning up going on right now? I would make a intellectual guess that Ron-Jon knows where alot of so-called perverbial bodies lay with in the town of Smithfield? Now with unpaid leave, what does the man have to lose?
YOU TALKED TO WHO!!!!
YOU SAID WHAT!!!!
https://jocoreport.com/smithfield-approves-largest-residential-development-in-town-history/
Pepe Silvia! Connecting the dots there terry.
Terry I’m not sure how how an article about someone who has Flip-Floped and changed his story. Has become a story about abortion mills in your mind. Are you sure your reading the same story? or do you just live in a fictional abortion mill world?
I think you need some help bad You talk some of the most radical stuff I have ever heard. Are you sure you want part of the Jan 6 I guess aliens are involved in all of this and trump told you to vote against Ronald
How’s that Kool-Aid taste?
Ronald Johnson, you have to be one of the most self centered, pompous, egocentric, conceited, egotistical, manipulative, dishonest and self-righteous people I have ever seen. You care only about yourself and POWER…you have no kids to be in the school system. You have lied and manipulated so many people. Honestly it is sad. You have so many people snowed with your slick words…you are an investigator. Your job is to have people interrogated so they will go along with your plot. We all make mistakes however the chickens have come home to roost in your situation. I knew you would never resign because it’s all about YOU, the spotlight and you basking in the glow of your blind supporters. It’s all a show. Like always, it’s all about you Ron John. How about take care of you and your present problems. It sounds like you have made a big hole for you to dig yourself out of. Do the honorable thing…RESIGN. You have been a major part of the crap show called JCPS. Please resign and do the right thing. Not for YOU, but for the kids of this county. You are not able to fulfill the duties of the board and you have to pay the price of your misconduct. If you truly cared about the kids and this school system, you would resign immediately.
Folks that have forgotten The Town of Smithfield has quite a questionable history even before Ron-Jon took center stage a couple weeks ago.
https://www.wral.com/sbi-to-investigate-smithfield-employee-pay/9861886/
Ok so the small man with a big ego is suspended without pay from cop job and refuses to leave school job. Sounds like some sick Eastern European 30s fascist stuff. Oh yes that’s right he pushed racist school policy! Who sound like the how Fascist took over Europe in the 30s. You need to learn your his Ron Jon. You republicans really like to be around kids to feel powerful huh. Maybe you can go fight in Ukraine, little man. Expect US.
The commentary on this thread is very entertaining. It’s as if we’re sitting in on a middle school current events class discussion.LOL!
This man created rules to ban thought advocated for the burning of books. You and your drones can leave the children. Look up my last name, I already have god. I also have the technology. I am done being nice to you.
Is that you Kamala?
Graduate of the Kamala Harris Sense Making Academy , magma cum laude
You guys make me laugh. Hiding behind fake names to comment on Ron. When you will not show you’re true names. What are you scared of?